MSC Armonia

The 2001-built / 2014-stretched MSC Armonia cruise ship is the first of MSC’s Lirica-class liners, with sisterships Opera, Sinfonia and Lirica. Armonia joined the MSC fleet in 2004. Before that, she sailed as “MS European Vision” for Festival Cruises (1992-founded / 2004-defunct).

The vessel (IMO number 9210141) is currently Panama-flagged (MMSI 357281000) and registered in Colon.

History – construction and ownership

MSC Cruises (MSC Crociere) is a passenger shipping company headquartered in Genoa and Naples. Established in 1960, MSC Crociere is a subsidiary of MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) — the world’s 2nd largest containership company and the world’s largest privately owned cruise company.

By annual passenger shipping volumes, MSC ranks as the world’s 3rd largest cruise shipowner, following Carnival Corporation and RCG-Royal Caribbean Group.

All four vessels in the Lirica class (Armonia, Lirica, Opera, Sinfonia) were enlarged by 24 m (80 ft), adding approximately 193 new staterooms (including Balcony cabins), 59 additional crew cabins, as well as new public areas, expanded kids’ facilities (LEGO and Chicco partnerships) and a new outdoor water park (“Spray Park” with interactive slides, jets and water toys).

The 2200-passenger MSC Armonia was built in 2001 in France. She combines contemporary features with an intimate onboard atmosphere and offers amenities including four restaurants, six bars, an Internet Café and a video arcade.

Decks and Cabins

MSC Armonia staterooms (975 total, in 9 grades) include 130 Suites, 94 Balcony, 401 Oceanview and 350 Inside cabins. Most staterooms are sized 140 ft² / 13 m², with balconies typically 40 ft² / 4 m². The largest are the Balcony Suites (250 ft² / 24 m² plus a 55 ft² / 5 m² terrace). The ship has only 4 wheelchair-accessible cabins (Inside category).

The vessel has 13 decks, of which 9 are passenger-accessible and 5 contain cabins. Decks are named after precious gemstones.

Shipboard dining options – Food and Drinks

MSC Armonia has no speciality restaurants, therefore no dining surcharges. Italian cuisine is widely featured, though quality may vary. The larger of the two main dining rooms, the Marco Polo Restaurant (Deck 5), offers seating for two to six guests. The casual buffet on Deck 11 serves as an alternative to the main dining rooms.

Follows the complete list of MSC Armonia restaurants and food bars:

• Marco Polo Restaurant (aft dining room, 974 seats, open for Breakfast 7–9:30 am, Lunch 12–2 pm, Dinner with two fixed seatings at 7 and 9:30 pm; 3-course lunch menu, 7-course dinner menu; size 600 m² / 6,458 ft²)
• The White Lion Pub (90-seat English pub bar, smoking allowed, live music, TVs; size 376 m² / 4,047 ft²)
• La Pergola Restaurant (aft dining room, 287 seats, dinner only with two fixed seatings at 7 or 9:30 pm; size 534 m² / 5,747 ft²)
• Surf & Turf Restaurant (38-seat speciality venue)
• La Brasserie Restaurant (344-seat complimentary buffet cafeteria; open 6 am–2 am; serves Afternoon Tea 4–5 pm; size 710 m² / 7,642 ft²)
• Il Girasole Restaurant (402-seat alfresco venue with pizzeria/salad area and outdoor grill/burger bar; size 968 m² / 10,419 ft²)

Shipboard entertainment options – Fun and Sport

MSC Armonia features a casino, theatre, disco, cabaret, library, fitness centre, golf simulator, two outdoor swimming pools, Jacuzzis and a spa. A beauty salon and dedicated kids’ play areas are also available. Additional amenities include complimentary 24-hour room service, supervised children’s programs, Internet/WiFi access and laundry service.

Follows the full list of MSC Armonia lounges, clubs and entertainment venues:

• Teatro La Fenice (550-seat theatre for live musical productions, classical concerts, acrobatics; two nightly shows at 7:30 and 9:30 pm; size 1,135 m² / 12,217 ft²)
• Armonia Atrium (two-deck-high midship open area)
• Reception Desk (96-seat guest services area; size 490 m² / 5,274 ft²)
• Shore Excursions Desk (size 40 m² / 430 ft²)
• Armonia@Café (Internet café with 6 computers; size 80 m² / 861 ft²)
• Gallery (brand watches and jewelry; size 60 m² / 645 ft²)
• Jewelry Shop (luxury accessories; size 100 m² / 1,076 ft²)
• Via Della Spica (shopping alley with duty-free shops for snacks, liquor, tobacco, perfumes, cosmetics, clothing, bags, MSC logo items; size 60 m² / 645 ft²)
• Mini Mall (duty-free; size 249 m² / 2,680 ft²)
• Cigar Room (16-seat lounge; size 50 m² / 538 ft²)
• Bar Del Duomo (205-seat cocktail lounge with live music, bingo, art auctions; size 600 m² / 6,458 ft²)
• Caffè San Marco (100-seat specialty coffee bar)
• Teens Club (18 seats; size 95 m² / 1,022 ft²)
• Video Games Arcade (size 45 m² / 484 ft²)
• Business Center (125-seat conference room / cinema; size 394 m² / 4,241 ft²)
• Palm Beach Casino (125-seat gaming lounge with smoking allowed; tables and slots; full bar; size 454 m² / 4,886 ft²)
• Armonia Lounge & Library (130-seat venue; size 319 m² / 3,433 ft²)
• The Red Bar (101-seat piano bar with live music)
• Photo Gallery & Shop (photo services and equipment; size 131 m² / 1,410 ft²)
• Armonia Lounge (424-seat show lounge with dance floor and bar)
• Medical Center (infirmary; size 107 m² / 1,151 ft²; staffed 24/7 by doctors and nurses)
• MSC Armonia Aurea Spa & Fitness Complex (thalassotherapy room, treatment rooms, 2 saunas, steam room, relaxation room, beauty salon, gym; open 9 am–9 pm; size 831 m² / 8,944 ft²)
• Baby Club & Mini Club (kids play areas with TVs, PlayStations, ball pool, movies, games, crafts)
• Le Piscine Pool Area (2 twin saltwater pools, 2 whirlpools)
• Doremi Spray Park
• Il Lido Bar (280-seat poolside bar complex with gelateria and Vitamin Bar; size 2,364 m² / 25,446 ft²)
• Power Walking/Jogging Track (7 laps = 1 mile)
• Young Club / Juniors Club – Teen Club (size 54 m² / 581 ft²)
• Starlight Disco & Nightclub (225-seat panoramic venue; size 739 m² / 7,954 ft²)
• Sundeck / Top 13 Solarium (adults-only relaxation area), Golf Simulator
• Sports Center (multi-sport court), Shuffleboard
• 9-hole Mini-Golf Course

Itineraries

In June 2020, MSC announced that beginning in 2021, MSC Armonia would be homeported in PortMiami for 3- and 4-night cruises departing Mondays and Fridays, all visiting MSC’s private island Ocean Cay.

MSC Armonia’s current deployment is based on Caribbean roundtrips from Tampa (Florida). Starting November 11, 2020, she offers year-round itineraries to ports in Yucatán (Mexico) and the Bahamas, including 4- and 5-night winter cruises (Nov 2020–Apr 2021), followed by 7-night summer cruises (May-Nov 2021).

Shorter itineraries (4–5 nights) visit Mexico (Costa Maya, Cozumel, Progreso), Florida (Key West) and the Bahamas (Ocean Cay). By booking B2Bs, guests can extend voyages to 9–10 nights. Prices range from USD 240 pp (4-night Tampa–Key West–Ocean Cay) to USD 300 pp (5-night Tampa–Cozumel–Costa Maya).

Following the inaugural Tampa season, Armonia operates 7-night roundtrips (May-Nov 2021) calling at Key West, Cozumel, Progreso and Ocean Cay (from USD 300 pp).

Previously, Armonia’s program was based on Caribbean homeports Havana, Cozumel and Miami, including:

• 7-day roundtrip from Havana to Roatan (Honduras), Belize City, Costa Maya (Mexico) and Isla de la Juventud (Cuba)
• 7-day roundtrip from Havana to Montego Bay (Jamaica), George Town (Grand Cayman) and Cozumel (Mexico)

These itineraries were combinable into 14-day B2Bs. In January 2016, MSC became the first global cruise brand to homeport in Havana. For winter 2016-2017, MSC deployed two ships in Cuba, with Armonia joining MSC Opera for full-season operations.

Starting December 2018, MSC Armonia added PortMiami to her Cuban itinerary (8-day roundtrips with 2-day Havana stay), joining MSC Divina and MSC Seaside.

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, MSC Armonia was paused for over two years (March 2020-April 2022) and resumed operations on April 10 with Mediterranean departures from Venice, Brindisi and Piraeus-Athens.

The vessel (Chantiers de l’Atlantique, hull number V31) has a volume of 65,542 GT, a DWT of 8,707 tons, and a maximum draught of 7 m. The powerplant consists of Wartsila marine diesel engines (model 12V38) with a combined output of 31.68 MW (42,480 hp). The registered shipowner is NEWCO ARMONIA SA, while the registered manager is MSC MEDITERRANEAN SHIPPING CO.

MSC Armonia was originally built as “European Vision” for Festival Cruises (2001–2004).

Armonia is MSC’s first Lirica-class vessel (in the fleet since 2004), with sisterships Lirica, Opera and Sinfonia. In 2014, Armonia was stretched (elongated by 25 m / 82 ft) during a major drydock refit at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Palermo, Sicily. During the August–November 2014 drydock, the ship was cut in two and a pre-built midsection was inserted. This reconstruction project was part of MSC’s USD 273 million “Renaissance Program,” through which Lirica, Opera and Sinfonia were also enlarged.

MSC Armonia refurbishment 2019 review

The ship’s last drydock (November 18–December 8, 2019) was conducted in Freeport, Bahamas. This USD 30 million project included renovations to all public areas and staterooms, general maintenance work, and minor technical upgrades.

MSC Armonia refurbishment 2014 review

Armonia underwent a major refurbishment in 2014 (drydock between August 31 and November 17). Significant deck plan changes followed, as the ship was stretched by 25 m / 82 ft. The 2014 upgrade included:

• Renovation and amenity upgrades for all cruise cabins.
• Addition of 193 new passenger cabins (on Decks 9–Ametista, 10–Tormalina, 12–Zaffiro) and 59 new crew cabins.
• Introduction of new stateroom categories.
• Installation of an Aqua Park (Spray Park with waterfalls and interactive slides).
• Upgraded boutique shops (new designs) and an additional luxury perfumes shop.
• Upgraded supervised kids' clubs and playgrounds with Chicco and LEGO equipment and toys.

The 10-week drydock was valued at nearly EUR 50 million.

Cuba cruise itineraries 2016–2017–2019

In December 2015, MSC Cruises announced that during the winter 2016-2017 season, MSC Armonia’s itinerary program would include two 7-day cruises to Cuba with overnight stays in Havana. The itineraries also featured Caribbean ports such as Costa Maya, Roatan, Belize City, Grand Cayman and Montego Bay (Jamaica). Another visited Cuban port was Isla de la Juventud.

Armonia became MSC’s second ship (along with MSC Opera) offering scheduled departures from Cuba. MSC also markets Caribbean fly-cruise packages from Europe (Spain, Italy, France, Germany), as well as from Canada, Brazil and Argentina.

Starting December 10, 2018, MSC Armonia began operating 7-day Caribbean roundtrips from homeport Miami, including a 2-day stay (overnight) in Havana. The deployment is year-round. Other call ports on the itinerary include Montego Bay, Georgetown and Cozumel, followed by Havana (Saturday arrival, Sunday departure) with only one sea day. Balcony cabin prices started at USD 1170 per person (double occupancy). In Miami, Armonia joined fleetmates Divina (2012-built) and Seaside (2017-built).